|
Fantasy Forces:
2B-Bret Boone (33)- Boone put up perhaps the best season ever by a pivot two years ago and although he settled back closer to
reality in '02, he was still one of the league's top producers. It's unlikely he will ever have another '01, but adjustments in his
swing will allow him to continue putting up high quality numbers.
SP-Freddy Garcia (26)- From Opening Day '01 thru last year's All-Star break, the crafty ace won 29 games but watched it all slip away
as he struggled to gain command of the strikezone. With a large workload over that same span, the Mariners are hoping he simply ran
out of gas. Watching the same pitches get jacked that had previously baffled the hitters, he should get back to business as usual with
another year under his belt.
SP-Jamie Moyer (40)- Moyer got to Seattle as a 9½ year veteran with 66 wins. In the 6½ years since he got to Seattle he
has won 98, establishing himself as one of the game's top winners on a year to year basis. With a pedestrian arsenal, he lulls hitters
into repeatedly swinging at pitches off the plate, resulting in weak grounders. Given his repertoire, he will be effective as long as
he continues to pitch.
SP-Joel Pineiro (24)- Pineiro fits in the mold of Garcia, using a low-90s fastball while mixing in a variety of offspeed
pitches, although he has much better control. Pineiro began the season in the bullpen but quickly moved to the rotation where he was
arguably the Mariners most consistent pitcher. Throwing 100 innings the first half, he wore down in the latter days but will be a
force from in the middle of the rotation in '03.
CL-Kazuhisa Sasaki (35)- Sasaki, the '00 ROY, was once again dominating the late innings before a bum elbow led to a big
falloff the final month. He underwent offseason surgery to remove a bone chip and should be back to form this year. With 119
saves in 3 years, he has passed up Mariano Rivera as the AL's top closer.
RF-Ichiro Suzuki (29)- It's not often a player can rack up a .321 average and 208 hits and still see a dip in production but
Ichiro did while at the same time looking almost human after the break. Though he has double digit homerun potential, he seemed to try
for the fences more often, taking speed, his biggest asset, out of his game. Don't fret, consider it a sophomore slump and he will be
back to his '01 ROY production again in '03.
LF-Randy Winn (28)- Coming off a bust out campaign in Tampa Bay, Winn comes over as compensation for Lou Pinella and will give
the Mariners the league's fastest outfielder while a shift to left will suit Winn's defensive needs very adeptly. With Ichiro in front
of him, there's no reason to believe he can't duplicate last year's numbers and potentially do much more.
Better Days Ahead:
SP-Rafael Soriano (23)- After determining he wasn't going to be a big leaguer as an outfielder, Soriano converted to pitching and
is on the cusp of putting his name in the rotation. He has good command and the potential to dominate but also falls into bouts of
inconsistency, which is likely a result of his inexperience. He will vie for the last spot in the rotation but will likely see time in
the pen as well. |
Supporting Cast:
CF-Mike Cameron (30)- Cameron made his mark with a four-bomb effort on May 2 and was Seattle's leading homerun hitter with a meager 25.
While the sure-handed center fielder has steady power capabilities, his biggest asset is his speed. He swings big and often and will
post another low average in pitcher-friendly Safeco.
C-Ben Davis (26)- The switch-hitter continued to wait patiently for more playing time and his second half likely assured him of
that this season. He has good power potential and can develop into a yearly .280 hitter and is very dangerous behind the plate.
He should get to play 3-4 games a week.
SS-Carlos Guillen (27)- Long touted as the shortstop of the future, Guillen once again failed to establish himself as a
potential everyday player. Overcome by nagging injuries the past couple years, he showed flashes of his potential before the break
before wearing down to a dismal second half. He is still the prime option at short but should be over the honeymoon. This season
will make or break Guillen's future in Seattle.
1B-John Olerud (34)- Like Moyer and Martinez, Olerud goes about his business out of the spotlight but in the end is as steady
as anyone. He has a great eye and can put nearly any pitch in play and you can pencil him in for .300/20/100 every year.
RP-Arthur Rhodes (33)- Once misplaced as a starter, Rhodes has become the majors' dominant force against lefties while becoming
most valuable non-closer in the game out of the bullpen. Though he won't get any saves unless Sasaki goes down, he will again get
prime win totals and a magnificent WHIP.
Risky Business:
3B-Jeff Cirillo (33)- Though no one expected Cirillo to duplicate his Coors' production, the Mariners surely expected more than
they got when he dropped from 2nd to 9th in the order. The career .304 hitter hit a nadir in '02 as he struggled to find the approach
he had in Milwaukee. Though his troubles last year cannot be simply put on Coors, it's unlikely Cirillo will regain his former stroke
although he should be a steady slapper from the 2nd or 7th spot.
SP-Ryan Franklin (30)- After coming out of the pen for two years with the Ms, Franklin got the opportunity to start and was
effective enough to all but give him a starting spot this year. With the presence of Meche and Soriano, his stay in the rotation may
be a short one.
SP-Gil Meche (24)- Meche made his debut as a brash 20 year old in '99 and was on the rise in '00 before rotator cuff surgery
knocked him out for the past two full seasons. He is now trying to make his way back and is a favorite to land a spot in the rotation
although arm strength is a big issue. He will get better as the season wears but is unlikely to see a full-time role in the rotation
or pen.
Past Their Prime:
DH-Edgar Martinez (40)- Back for more, it is apparent the professional hitter is on the downside of a solidly consistent career.
Injuries continue to hound the career .317 hitter and he failed to hit .300 and 20 homeruns for the first time since '94. Although he
can still get the job done when playing, he will see more and more days off and is likely taking his final hacks. |
